Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-08


sideni, presided, and Major W. T. SimOn5,
treasurer. and Sir. Thomas Elicit, secre-
tsry. occupied seats Oh the frOLt row OF
chairs. Around the front of the stage were
Messrs. +. Il. Archer, VI. ! DimmO,k. JO.
seph y. Welsh, a. NJ. r. Billingslea, VIII
liam e.. AmmouS, w. j. Whltehurst, Rich.
ard l.. Frayser, Oyerton Howard, Harry
u. Owen, William l.. Sheppard, l. :.
Tower, George p. Stacy, w. L. Higham,
Thomas n. Page, Lyon G. Tyler, Joseph
w. Thomas, and Robert Whittet, members
oi the Board Of Directors; also, several
members of the City Council. Behind
these gentlemen were all the pupils Of tn
school.
CAPTAIN AINsIGE.
The exercises were begun with an intro
0uctory address by Captlin Ainslic. He
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen.-Tbsi is The Grst
time in the history of the Virginia Me
chanics' Institute that it has claimed
the public attention OF our citizens. The
design on thi. occasion + tO let you know
something Of its aims and objects.
The Virginia Mechanics Institute" as
the name indicates, Is composed chiefly OF
mechanics. Its purposes are the promotion
aud encouragement Of the mechanic and
useful arts and the mental and social de-
yelopmcnt Of the industrial classes. This
Institute j. now at the close Of the third
year Of It's existence. Each winter during
that time it has maintained night scAoO'
for the instruction Of young mechanics.
The session iust closing has been a very
Successful one in many respects, and We
haye bad in attendance 2CG scholars, many
Of whom have made wonderful progress IN
their studies. instruction has been given
in architectural, mechanical, and free-hand
drawing; in mechanics, phy sizes, and eng.-
neering, and IN mathematics and book
keeping.
For all OF lbCse clJSSeS we bad competent
and experienced teachers, whose WORK
can scarcely praise too highly. Bnt zeal.
Ouslv and intelIgently as the officers and
teschcTs have labored, we never could have
accomplished the good which to- day stands
to our credit but for the aid given rs by
the City Council. They have correctly
estimated the value to the community OF an
institution Of this character. and with
money and with good words have
greatly encouraged Us. Calculated in
the coldest and most sOrdid man.
ner, the money is well invested, and
will come back with interest. But what is
for more delightful to think OF is thlt wc
ale giving TO bright yOung men the oppor-
tunity OF qualifying themselves for higher
and mole useful stations in life. Weopen
TO them (aud to many il j. their last oppor.
unity the paths for honorable ambition
With the technical training this institute
affords, our scholars can qualify thenselye-
10 become masters OF their business, and
instead Of beng taught they may hereafter
tech; instead OF beng directed they mly
direct.
Most Of those who have been prof.ing by
our instruction are Young men who work
al day OF their trades and who devote the
hours OF the evening which most other per-
sons give 10 pleasure 10 hard study. They
appreciate the value OF education, and they
are generally faithful students, who look for
ward, 9s they reasonably may, to the time
when they will be foremen, master work
mCn, and owners in great enterprises.
No city has more TO gain from the estlb
liehmfut Of lhOrOughly.equpped techni-
cll school than Richmond, for her pros.
pcrily largely rests CpOn the success, Oi her
nanufactOriCs. Our desire, therefore.
should BE- 10 educate our own mechanics 70
I'll The positions where experts are re-
quir,d Too often now we have to ge'
managers from other cities-citio winch
afford their young mechanics such flcu,.
tics notably Boston and the city Of New
York, where Is located the Cooper Insti.
tute. endowed 10y that grclt aud COOL man,
Peter CoOner-an Institution where. frce OF
cot. all who wish it can obtain q scientific
education.
A lew OF us are banded together for this
lauGahc purpose, and we ask the SympI-
thy and support Of the Richmond public.
q bone to convince you during tie cVcr-
cises oi this evening that we bavc maze
some progress towards the accomplishment
II the great objects we have 70 view: but
we 90 not desire to mOnOpolize the work.
We ask you 10 join uS. We desire 10 IN
crease our educational facilities. We want
building suited TO our needs-One in
which not only our schools can be accom-.
moGatcd, but large enough To hold per-
maucnt Industrial exhibition. where Ia.
veDtors and all who work in a cGedlahle
manner can exhibit specimens Of their skill
and industry.
And now gsk your attention to the pro.
cromme, in which | am sure you Will ind
beth instruction and pleasure.
COLONEL BURGwYN.
As Captain Aiu,lie concluded his re-
MARKS Colonel c. p. L. Burgwyn was in.
troduced
Coming 70 the front OF the stage, Colonel
Burgwyn said:
Ladics and Gentlcmcd (lnd ! hope yOL
will allow me 10 add), Friends Of the Nlr.
gina Mechanics Institute,- has fallen to
nv lot to make few remarks upon the
rr0gress Of the Night. School Department
of tie Virginia Mechanics Institute during
the past session and an explanation OF the
studies.
The studies undertaken by the institute
ire desigued 10 embrace 4 CONTINUOUS and
wrlhcounectcd course, which are ~ fol-
ogs: Mathematics, bookkeeping, mecha.
lical and orclMectural drawing, free.hand
drawing, and the principles OF mechanics,
p5ySics, and engineering.
II l. the object OF the Committee on
Nigbt School. 10 provide instruction for
be scholars Of such an eXtont that after
hey have passed through the different
classes they will have attained the grOuad-
work Of an education that will ALLOW them
10 take their stand among the foremost SUI
perinierdents and inventors OF the age,
cot only practically in the mechanical
handling Of the drawing. pen and pencil,
tut also theoretically in the intellectual in-
yestieation OF the laws aud principles in
yOlyed.
Mr.. Burgwyn then spoke OF the work OF
he school, the value OF practical educa.
lion, &c. and concluded as follows:
To encourage the scholars in their
studies and TO indicate TO the people at
laree those scholars who have achieved
the highest distinction in their different
departments medals have been awarded
them. II is my pleasing duty TO announce
these awards. My excellent and most
mghly-csteemed predecessor, Mr.. a. NJ. +.
Bilingslea, will deliver them.
Mr.. BlLLINGsLEA.
Being thus introduced, Mr.. Billlngslea
read The list OF those entitled TO prizes, and
Is they came forward he made the presenta-
lions in Il neat and complimentary speech
10 each. Below is list OF the proGcients
IN the several denartments:
Observation-Disclosures class, (sllver
medal,)J. Jopbam; junior class, silver
medal) James Voss; senior class, gold
medsl,) Robert Rouse; bookkeeping, (gold
medal,) A. b. Curd.
Honorable NentIon-Hunter Daughton,
C. L. Wood, Thomas Whittet, IL. Kinder
water, L. w. Redd. ii. l.. Denoon, &. IL.
UTner.
Free.Hand Drawing-Gold medal, D.
W. De Sylvia; money prize OF sl5. ID. W.
De Sylvia; money prize OF Sl0, Leo A.
Pusey; money prize OF IS, Herman Kinder
water.
Architectural-Ju (gold medal,) W.